1. An interconnect device comprising:
a contact assembly having a carrier holding an array of conductors, each of the conductors having opposite first and second ends configured to engage corresponding first and second electrical components, the conductors defining conductive paths between the first and second ends to electrically interconnect the first and second electrical components; and
a first corner frame and a second corner frame separate and discrete from the first corner frame, the first and second corner frames being separately mounted to the carrier, the first and second corner frames defining a receiving space therebetween configured to receive the first electrical component therein, each of the first and second corner frames includes a first arm and a second arm, the first and second arms being metal and integrally formed, the first and second arms extending from proximal ends to distal ends, the first and second arms of the first corner frame joined at the proximal ends thereof at a flexible hinge of the first corner frame, the first and second arms of the second corner frame joined at the proximal ends thereof at a flexible hinge of the second corner frame, the first and second arms having metal spring fingers extending to the distal ends of the respective arms and extending along different sides of the receiving space, the spring fingers being configured to engage different side edges of the first electrical component to locate the first electrical component in the receiving space, the spring fingers being deflectable and being configured to be spring biased against corresponding side edges of the first electrical component.
2. The interconnect device of claim 1, wherein the corner frames are mounted directly to the carrier.
3. The interconnect device of claim 1, wherein each spring finger is configured to engage a different side edge of the first electrical component, with the spring fingers of the first corner frame biasing the first electrical component toward the second corner frame and with the spring fingers of the second corner frame biasing the first electrical component toward the first corner frame.
4. The interconnect device of claim 1, wherein the side edges of the first electrical component meet at corners, the corner frames receiving corresponding corners of the first electrical component and extending along both side edges that meet at such corner.
5. The interconnect device of claim 1, wherein the first corner frame and second corner frame are arranged on opposite corners of the first electrical component, the first corner frame engaging first and second side edges of the first electrical component, the second corner frame engaging third and fourth side edges of the first electrical component.
6. The interconnect device of claim 1, wherein the metal spring fingers of each corner frame locate the first electrical component in at least two different directions.
7. The interconnect device of claim 1, wherein the corner frames include locating posts for locating the corner frames with respect to the carrier and the array of conductors.
8. The interconnect device of claim 1, wherein the corner frames include integral fasteners for securing the corner frames to the carrier.
9. An interconnect device comprising:
a contact assembly having a carrier holding an array of conductors, each of the conductors having opposite first and second ends configured to engage corresponding first and second electrical components, the conductors defining conductive paths between the first and second ends to electrically interconnect the first and second electrical components; and
a first corner frame and a second corner frame separate and discrete from the first corner frame, the first and second corner frames being separately mounted to the carrier, the first and second corner frames defining a receiving space therebetween configured to receive the first electrical component therein, each of the first and second corner frames having metal spring fingers meeting at a corner and extending along different sides of the receiving space, the spring fingers being configured to engage different side edges of the first electrical component to locate the first electrical component in the receiving space, the spring fingers being deflectable and being configured to be spring biased against corresponding side edges of the first electrical component, wherein each corner frame includes a clip extending through the carrier and engaging the corresponding corner frame to secure such corner frame to the carrier.
10. The interconnect device of claim 1, wherein the corner frames are stamped and formed from a sheet of metal.
11. The interconnect device of claim 1, wherein each first and second arm includes a base mounted to the carrier, the bases of the corresponding corner frames being oriented generally perpendicular with respect to each other, the metal spring fingers extending from the bases to the distal ends of the respective arms.
12. The interconnect device of claim 1, wherein the metal spring fingers of the first corner member are oriented at an acute angle, and the metal spring fingers of the second corner member are oriented at an acute angle.
13. The interconnect device of claim 11, wherein the flexible hinges allow hinge allow the first and second arms and corresponding bases to flex and to pivot relative to one another.
14. An interconnect device comprising:
a contact assembly having an insulative carrier holding an array of conductive elastomeric columns, each of the elastomeric columns having opposite first and second ends configured to engage corresponding first and second electrical components, the elastomeric columns being internally conductive between the first and second ends to electrically interconnect the first and second electrical components; and
a first corner frame and a second corner frame separate and discrete from the first corner frame, the first and second corner frames being separately mounted to the carrier, the first and second corner frames defining a receiving space therebetween configured to receive the first electrical component therein, each of the first and second corner frames includes a first arm and a second arm, the first and second arms being metal and integrally formed, the first and second arms extending from proximal ends to distal ends, the first and second arms of the first corner frame joined at the proximal ends thereof at a flexible hinge of the first corner frame, the first and second arms of the second corner frame joined at the proximal ends thereof at a flexible hinge of the second corner frame, the first and second arms having metal spring fingers extending to the distal ends of the respective arms and extending along different sides of the receiving space, the spring fingers being configured to engage different side edges of the first electrical component to locate the first electrical component in the receiving space, the spring fingers being deflectable and being configured to be spring biased against corresponding side edges of the first electrical component.
15. The interconnect device of claim 14, wherein the corner frames are mounted directly to the carrier.
16. The interconnect device of claim 14, wherein each spring finger is configured to engage a different side edge of the first electrical component, with the spring fingers of the first corner frame biasing the first electrical component toward the second corner frame and with the spring fingers of the second corner frame biasing the first electrical component toward the first corner frame.
17. The interconnect device of claim 14, wherein the metal spring fingers of each corner frame locate the first electrical component in at least two different directions.
18. The interconnect device of claim 14, wherein the corner frames include locating posts for locating the corner frames with respect to the carrier and the array of conductors.
19. The interconnect device of claim 14, wherein the corner frames are stamped and formed from a sheet of metal.
20. The interconnect device of claim 14, wherein each corner frame includes a clip extending through the carrier and engaging the corresponding corner frame to secure such corner frame to the carrier.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A passive guide vane system comprising:
a rotatable shaft moveable between a fully open position and a closed position;
an airfoil connected to the shaft, the airfoil operable for guiding working fluid in a flow path of a turbo-machine;
a biasing member operable for biasing the airfoil toward the closed position; and
a retainer connected to the shaft for retaining the biasing member within an aperture formed in the shaft.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein momentum of the fluid flowing through the flow path causes the vane to move toward the fully open position.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the fully open position corresponds to a desired operating condition of the turbo-machine.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a spring.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein spring is one of a torsional, compression coil, tension coil, or leaf spring.
6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a locking mechanism to hold the vane in the fully open position.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism includes a ball detent with a set screw for position control.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the locking mechanism includes a pocket formed in the shaft for receiving the detent ball.
9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a locking collar connecting the biasing member to static support structure.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the turbo-machine is a gas turbine engine.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the guide vane is positioned in one of a compressor section and a turbine section of a turbine engine.
12. A gas turbine engine comprising:
a section with at least one stage of variable position guide vanes and at least one stage of rotating blades positioned within a flow path for working fluid; and
a passive control system operable for controlling the position of the guide vanes; and
a locking mechanism to hold the vanes in the fully open position.
13. The turbine engine of claim 12, wherein the section is one of a compressor section and a turbine section.
14. The turbine engine of claim 13, further comprising:
a biasing member operable for biasing the vanes toward a closed position.
15. The turbine engine of claim 12, wherein momentum of the fluid flowing through the flow path causes the vanes to move toward a fully open position.
16. The turbine engine of claim 15, wherein the fully open position corresponds to a desired operating condition of the gas turbine engine.
17. A method for controlling variable position guide vanes comprising:
biasing the vanes toward a closed position;
flowing fluid through a flow path; and
opening the vanes in response to the momentum of fluid flow through the flow path; and
locking the vanes in a desired open position.
18. A passive guide vane system comprising:
a rotatable shaft moveable between a fully open position and a closed position;
an airfoil connected to the shaft, the airfoil operable for guiding working fluid in a flow path of a turbo-machine;
a biasing member operable for biasing the airfoil toward the closed position; and
a locking mechanism to hold the vane in the fully open position.
19. The passive guide vane system of claim 18 further comprising a retainer connected to the shaft for retaining the biasing member within an aperture formed in the shaft.
20. A passive guide vane system comprising:
a rotatable shaft moveable between a fully open position and a closed position;
an airfoil connected to the shaft, the airfoil operable for guiding working fluid in a flow path of a turbo-machine;
a biasing member operable for biasing the airfoil toward the closed position; and
a locking collar connecting the biasing member to static support structure.